Turkey arrests nearly 190 Daesh suspects in June

By Volkan Kasik

MALATYA, Turkey

Nearly 190 suspects linked to Daesh were arrested in nationwide counterterrorism operations across Turkey last month, according to information from security officials.

An Anadolu Agency analysis of security announcements showed that 20 of 188 Daesh suspects -- including foreigners -- were remanded in custody to face trial on a variety of charges.

During counter-terrorism operations across Turkey, including ones in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Gaziantep, security officials also thwarted planned attacks.

On June 15, in the southern Kilis province, four Azerbaijani nationals and one Bosnian wanted under an Interpol red notice were arrested for being members of a terrorist group while illegally crossing into Turkey from Syria.

On June 19, a Turkish court handed down a 15-month jail term to two Iraqi nationals for links to the Daesh terrorist group, a police source said.

On June 7, a court in the northwestern Sakarya province remanded in custody Halis Bayancuk, codenamed Abu Hanzala, a suspected senior Daesh member, according to a judicial source.

During operations, police, gendarmerie, and border troops also seized documents, weapons, and ammunition.

Reporting by Volkan Kasik; Writing by Meryem Goktas